The Vadamaradchchy Christian Union condemned the ban on memorialization that was issued to local activist, Reverend R. Elilrajan, who was prohibited from facilitating a memorial event.
The memorial event included stones with the name of those killed in the final stages of the war. The Sri Lankan police argued that this form of memorialization might interfere with national security, national unity and peace.
Vadamaradchchy Christian Union released a statement that highlights the benefits of memorialization for psychological wellbeing and collective grieving. Further stating that grieving is a basic human right.
“The efforts of the State in obtaining this ban calls into question of sincerity, good conscience and the will of this government in facilitating reconciliation and transitional justice as loudly proclaimed. The securitizing of this memorial gathering and the carved rocks shows us once more that normal life may never return to the North and East,” read the statement.
Further, the Vadamaradchchy Christian Union stated that the government should reverse its position on the matter of memorialization generally. “We insist that the government reverses its stance on obstructing reconciliation and building of trust. We also reiterate that all the responsible stakeholders tip toeing around this issue must act decisively to ensure that all those affected continue to live and work with basic right and dignity.”